The Perceived Felt-Sense / Evie Currie-Mullan (2021)

This thesis explores an investigation into the perceived, felt-sense of myself during performance material, from two of the works as part of Transitions Dance Company’s Triple Bill Tour 2021. Whilst having myself observe from an insider’s point of view, the perception of an external audience is used, drawing on their observations through digital footage of my investigations in the studio, leading to a cohesion of findings that fulfils my analysis and creates a grounded concept on the processes of a dancer achieving a flow state during a phrase-length of performance material.

Theoretical knowledge is embedded throughout this document where there are three different themes creating a groundwork for this research to evolve from, these being: Feeling, Digital Lens and Seeing. By drawing on different theories, a framework was constructed in order to conduct the research, enabling a practical based period of research to take place which was documented for further analysis in a continuation of the findings being worked with.

Through explaining the importance of digital use in this research, this thesis goes on to discover the possibilities an external eye can create through observing an individual’s explorations. The contribution of a variety of perceptions on the same focal point, proved beneficial to the findings of this research, whereby the notion of looking through several lenses to create an overall consensus brought this research to a conclusive point of discovery. From the starting point of acknowledging that a flow state exists in my dance practice, to uncovering ways to facilitate the production of it in a specified area of dance performance material, this document talks through the journey to get to this place and justifies the use of methods drawn from to do so.